Somaliland President receives US congressional staff delegation

Somaliland President Muse Bihi has received in his office a US congressional staff delegation who arrived in Hargeisa. Members of the delegation are staff representing the Senate Foreign Relations, House Foreign Affairs and House Appropriations and Conservation Committees, along with various senior policy advisors from Washington.

During the high-level talks, the President and US delegation discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries, most importantly security, democracy and the region.

According to the Somaliland presidency, the US delegation extended gratitude to the President and the public for welcoming them and underscored the extent to which Somaliland has achieved democracy.

The US delegation pledged to submit a comprehensive report on Somaliland’s case to the US congress. The delegation is scheduled to meet with members of Somaliland’s government, along with a bevy of Somaliland’s civil societies, education, health, and other members of the public.

Congressional staffers, generally responsible for working with the individual members of Congress or committees they are assigned to, are also charged with formulating major policy positions at the technical level. Their reports and due diligence are used as the evidence which informs and drives the U.S. government’s posture and policies on global issues.

Their visit to Somaliland may mark another turning point in the U.S. government’s engagement with Somaliland, and signal American interest in reassessing their interests in the Horn region.